Tuesday, 21 December 2010

Manchester City 1-2 Everton

Manchester City will not be top of the tree for Christmas as Everton still have the upper hand over The Citizens. A Calamitous 20 minutes cost City the game as 2 quick fire goals, and resolute defending earned Everton victory.

All the talk before the game was the news of Carlos Tevez had withdrawn his transfer request after 'clear the air' talks with City. As this was brilliant news, it could of been a distraction to the preparation to the game (there is no reason why it should, but it was big news).

Manchester City were slow out of the blocks. Everton capitalised on 4 minutes with Tim Cahill unmarked in the 6 yard box scoring a header which Joe Hart had little chance of stopping. Fault must lie with Alexsandar Kolarov for letting the cross in, and Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure, who were poor throughout the game for  a lack of communication leaving Cahill on his own.

On 18 minutes Everton doubled their lead. Manchester City were down to 10 men as Pablo Zabaleta was off receiving stitches to a head wound. With James Milner as make shift right back,  Leighton Baines cut inside from the left hand side to curl a right footed shot past the diving 'keeper. City were struggling to get into the game at this point and needed to step it up a gear.



The onslaught began in earnest. Kompany. David Silva and Mario Balotelli, all having shots stopped by what is now a defence-orientated Everton. The Toffees were intent on not conceding by hook or by crook. The crook being Phil Neville, who used his hook, with the handball being unpunished by Peter Walton (who shouldn't be a Premier League referee, but that is for another time.) Kolarov had a free kick saved by the impressive Tim Howard before half time.

The 2nd half started with a bizarre substitution by Mancini. Bringing on Adam Johnson in place of James Milner, one of the few players to have a good half. Kolarov started the second half as his the first. Forcing two good saves from Tim Howard. The game swayed in the favour of City as Victor Anichebe was sent off for 2 bookable offences. City's attacking moves were relying on David Silva to do something special. Something which is difficult when they are so many men behind the ball. But a goal did come when Phil Jagielka turned the ball into his own net.

Tim Howard was in great form, after conceding the own goal he kept out shots from Balotelli, Tevez with an impressive double save and pushing a David Silva shot wide. Kolo Toure rounded off a poor performance by getting himself sent off with 2 yellow cards in a minute. 



The first 20 minutes cost us the game. Very slow to get out of the blocks. Can't take anything away from Everton. They defended really well. A couple of handballs which should of seen City win some penalties. On any other day City would of won the game easily. Tim Howard had a blinding game.

Everton's first win in seven. City's first defeat in seven, and still can't beat Everton at home. 

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